Pallet



Spt. 8, 1953 s. w. wooDwARD PALLET 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 19. 1948 Sept. 8, 1953 s. w. wooDwARD 2,651,486

PALLET 'Filed Nov. 19. 194e z sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 8, 1953 PALLET Sherrill W. Woodward, Brattleboro, Vt., assignor to Woodward Lumber Company, Inc., Brattleboro, Vt., a corporation of Vermont Application November 19, 1948, Serial No. 61,065

This invention relates to improvements in pallets of the character used for handling by lift trucks, fork trucks, and other lifting devices for lifting and transporting or carrying lading of different kinds.

It has been the practice heretofore to lift and transport bags, boxes, packages, and other material containers by means of lift trucks usually having forks for engaging and lifting the containers and on which the containers are supported during transportation from place to place. Pallets frequently are provided as supports for such containers and material. Usually these pallets have been made of Wood and are formed of stringers with boards secured thereon having provisions for receiving the forks to facilitate the picking up Iand transporting of the pallets and material by such lifting devices.

Wooden pallets have been subject to many objections resulting from the use thereof, especially the insecurity due to splitting and breaking of the wood, the separation of the fastenings, the injury caused by the fastenings to the containers, etc. No satisfactory provision has been made heretofore to overcome these objections.

An object of this invention is to improve the construction of Wooden -pallets to overcome the' objections heretofore encountered therein in actual service.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a covering over the opposite ends of a portion of the pallet, especially over the boards and around the stringers thereof, to give strength and durability thereto and to add appreciably to the practicability of the pallet in the handling and transporting of the materials placed thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for secure attachment of the covering about the connected portion of the pallet in a Way which will not interfere with the construction of the pallet itself, but Will aid and strengthen that construction and provide smooth surfacesv thereon for the handling of the materials.

These objects may be accomplished by the provisionv of covering over a portion thereof, which covering Will extend around the Stringer over the fastenings that secure the boards thereto, not only to retain the fastenings in place but also to protect these against engagement thereof with the containers which would cause damage to the latter. The covering is secured rigidly by suitable fastenings to the stringers, which fastenngs, at least on the top surface, are preferably indented out of entan- 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-120) gling engagement with the containers placed thereon, so as to provide a substantially smooth top surface to the pallet.

The invention is shown in different embodiments in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of one form o-f pallet embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross section therethrough on the line 3 3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section through the end on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 4a is a similar vieW through a modified form of pallet;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the blank for the covering;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a modified form of pallet;

Fig. 7 is a cross section therethrough;

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the blank for the coverin-g for the pallet shown in Figs. 6 and 7; and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view showing still another modification in the pallet.

Referring to the form of pallet shown in Figs. l to 4, the pallet structure includes intermediate and end stringers I and 2, respectively, upon which are secured boards 3 and 4, forming the top and bottom of the pallet. The Vsize and character of these stringers and boards may be varied, as desired, as is customary in the trade. In the form shown in Figs. l to4, the end stringers 2 are notched out at 5, to provide openings at the -bottom of the pallet adapted to receive the prongs or forks of the lift trucks or other lifting devicethat normally may be used for Ahandling the pallet and the material stacked thereon. The boards 3 and 4 are shown as secured by nails 6 to the opposite edges of the stringers I and 2, although any other type of fastenings maybe used for that purpose, as screws, bolts, staples, etc.

I have provided a covering generally designated 1, for a portion of the pallet, such as each end thereof, as shown in Figs. l to 4. This covering 1 may be formed of any suitable sheet material, such as galvanized or electroplated sheet iron or steel, magnesium or any other suitable metal or covering material.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the body of the covering l extends over the entire end of the pallet, at each end thereof, and has flanges thereon for embracing and extending around the entire surface of the Stringer 2. Suitable provision is made for securing the body of the covering 1, in place thereon. This body may be stamped out of a single sheet of material substantially as indicated in Fig. 5.

Along its top edge, the body 1 is provided with an inturned ange 8, that extends over the top of the stringer 2, and over the boards 3, secured thereon throughout the length of this portion of the pallet. The flange 3 is secured to the Stringer 2, by fastenings 9, spaced at intervals therealong and preferably located in the slots provided between the boards 3, thereby drawing in portions of the flange 8 into the slots, as indicated at I in Figs. 3 and 4, whereby the covering will be retained securely on the boards and the latter will be held separated at proper distances at the top of the pallet.

The covering 1 also has an inturned flange I I, that extends over the lower edge of the Stringer 2, with flanges adapted to ll the notches 5 in the form shown in Figs. l to 4, and to cover the edges thereof. A ange l2 is cut in the sheet of a size to extend lengthwise of the notch 5, while ange members I3 are separated therefrom to extend down along the opposite ends of each notch 5, and to be turned inward in overlapping relation with the bottom of each notch. The flange I2 then is turned over the inner ends of the ange members i3, and these parts are secured in place by fastenings I4, as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. This forms a protective metal surface throughout the notch 5, which reduces wear thereon by the fork or other portion of the lifting device.

At the opposite edges of each end of the pallet the covering I is provided with an inturned ange I5, formed at the end of the body, and with flange portions IS formed on the opposite ends of the flanges 8 and I I, respectively. These parts are in position to be folded over the opposite ends of the Stringer 2, the flange I5 being folded inward thereon, and then the flange members IE folded over the member I5 and in overlapping relation with each other. These parts may be secured together and to the end of the Stringer 2, by a nail or other suitable fastening Il.

The body of the ycovering preferably is of rather thin sheet metal of the character described above and ts snugly securely in place over the covered portion of the pallet. If desired, however, the boards may be rabbeted as indicated at I3 in Fig. 4a to receive the flange 8a. on the covering 1a.. This will provide a ush and smooth top surface without appreciable projection of the flanges thereabove. This may not be necessary, however, if thin sheet metal is used, which is preferred, although the relative dimensions 5 f thereof is exaggerated considerably in the drawings.

Another type of pallet is illustrated generally in Figs. 6 and '7, in which the stringers 22 are not formed with notches like those illustrated at 5, described above, but have boards 23 secured on opposite edges of the stringers, and adapted to receive the forks or lifting device between the boards. In providing a covering therefor, as indicated at 21, the opposite edges of the body of the covering are turned over as flanges 28 overlapping the boards 23, and may be secured in rabbeted grooves therein, as described above, if desired. These flanges 28 are drawn in by nails or other fastenings 29 to provide inwardly deflected portions 3G between the boards 23, corresponding in general with the portions I8, as described above. The opposite ends of each Stringer are covered with flanges 3|, and liange members 32 secured in place by fastenings 33,

4 substantially as described above and shown at I5 to I1, in Figs. 2 and 3.

Still another modification is Shown in Fig. 9, in which the boards 33 have the intermediate Stringer provided with a covering 31, extending therearound over the nails that secure the boards to the Stringer, which intermediate covering 31 is in turn held in place by overlapping of the ends thereof at an end of the stringer and Securing these ends together by a nail or other fastening 38. Nails or other fastenings 39 may be inserted through the covering 31 between the boards 33 to draw-in this portion into the slot between the boards, to take up the slack and hold the parts in place.

This covering extends completely around two sides of the pallet parallel with the stringers and extends over onto the top and bottom boards.

The covering also folds over the ends of the outside Stringers from the side and also from the top and bottom, making a tight joint free from sharp corners and end pieces of covering. The overlapping side, top and bottom pieces are fastened onto the ends of the stringers thus completely binding the parts together. Fasteners are driven through the covering in the center of the space between the boards tight enough to take up the slack in the covering. Fasteners are driven through the covering on the bottom of the pallet near the outside edges of the space left by notches therein for the entrance of wheels or rollers on hand lift trucks. A strip of covering material entirely around the center of the pallet may be fastened to the end of the Stringer and at other Spaces in the same manner as described above.

This covering according to this invention may be used on pallets to:

(a) Materially add to its strength and durability;

(b) Give the pallet the additional Strength it needs to absorb the shock and stress resulting from the uneven operation of the. fork truck or other lifting device;

(c) Make it possible and practical to use unseasoned as well as seasoned or kiln-dried lumber, thus retarding the fast drying which may cause the boardsand stringers to check, split and warp;

(d) Exert a, tension on the boards holding them tighter against the stringers when in the process of drying or when they are used in plants having very low humidity or extreme temperatures;

(e) Cover all of the heads of the nails or other fasteners on the ends and middle of the boards which are fastened to the stringers, thus preventing damage to bags, sacks or other materials that may be piled thereon;

(f) Entirely eliminate the possibility of heads of nails or other fastening devices used to fasten boards to stringers, of ever being able to project above the surface of the pallet on the top and on the bottom;

(g) Make pallet free from slivers on the ends of the boards and stringers, making them less hazardous when handled by hand;

(h) Protect the ends of the stringers from the forks on the lift trucks, or other lifting devices, from splitting or damaging the boards and stringers when entering or moving the pallet either empty or loaded;

(i) Make a cleaner and neater pallet, thereby greatly` adding to the appearance of the pallet.

the merchandise stacked thereon, and the warehouse;

(j) Prevent the rust from the heads of nails or other fastening devices from damaging merchandise piled on the pallet; and

(lc) Make an additional bearing on the bottom of the pallet where the spaces are left for the entry of the wheels on hand lift trucks, causing less damage to merchandise piled on the load underneath said pallet.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein, without departing from the invention, except as specified in the claim.

I claim:

In a pallet, the combination with wooden stringere having spaced boards on opposite sides thereof and headed fastenings extending through the boards into the stringers for securing the boards thereto, of a covering cap at each end of the pallet, said covering cap being formed of sheet metal extending over the ends of the boards and over the outer side face of the Stringer therebetween at the end of the pallet, and having inturned anges overlapping the outer faces of the boards and overlapping the fastenings of the boards, and means for securing said flanges to the pallet, said means including fastenings extending through at least one of the flanges intermediate spaced boards and deflecting said lflange into the spaces between said boards with the exposed heads of the lastmentioned fastenings below the top face of the last-mentioned cap flange.

SHERRILL W. WOODWARD.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Niunber Name Date 853,086 Jacquart May 7, 1907 1,575,462 Stuebing Mar. 2, 1926 1,698,029 Shepard Jan. 8, 1929 1,790,019 Raymond Jan. 27, 1931 1,794,665 Barrett Mar. 3, 1931 1,819,752 Maull Aug. 18, 1931 1,842,617 Lupton Jan. 26, 1932 1,864,232 Cocks June 21, 1932 2,148,150 Clark Feb. 21, 1939 2,311,280 Quayle Feb. 16, 1943 2,392,789 Walter Jan. 8, 1946 2,395,982 White Mar. 5, 1946 2,436,554 Cruickshank Feb. 24, 1948 2,464,153 Robinson Mar. 8, 1949 2,491,073 Barrett Dec. 13, 1949 

